According to the IATA (International Air Transport Association), air travel demand in July 2023 recovered 95.6% of the pre-pandemic level, representing a 26.2% increase compared to the same month in 2022. The demand has been driven by increased bookings in China's domestic market.
According to recent statistics, national air passenger transport has increased by 8.3% in July compared to the figures recorded in 2019. In the international market, 88.7% of pre-pandemic levels were reached, with a notable increase of 21.5% on internal routes and 29.6% on international routes compared to the seventh month of 2022.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh highlighted that planes were operating at total capacity throughout July, indicating a growing number of people traveling by air. He further stated that ticket sales indicate high traveler confidence, and there are many reasons to be optimistic about the continued recovery.
In terms of area, Asia-Pacific airlines experienced the highest increase in international air traffic, with a growth rate of 105.8% compared to July 2022. Capacity also increased by 96.2%, and the load factor rose by 3.9 percentage points, reaching 84.5%.
European operators also saw growth in international air traffic, with an increase of 13.8% compared to the previous year. Their capacity grew by 13.6%, and the load factor rose to 87%. Middle Eastern airlines recorded a 22.6% demand growth in July, while North American and Latin American airlines experienced growth rates of 17.7% and 25.3%, respectively.